Southern California College of Chiropractic

By Michael Dorausch, D.C.

Over the weekend that was reviewing some nostalgic chiropractic magazines (like the 1996 ICA Review) and I was reminded of a chiropractic school that used to exist in the Pasadena area of southern California.

The Southern California College of Chiropractic was still in business when I started my chiropractic education in the mid 1990s. I believe the school closed around late 1995 or sometime in 1996, with the majority of students transferring to Cleveland Chiropractic College in Los Angeles. Here is some historical information from a 1995 FACTS (Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Tenets and Science) booklet which included information on chiropractic colleges…

Southern California College of Chiropractic
William R. Boone, DC, President
8420 Beverly Road
Pico Rivera, CA 90660

Southern California College of Chiropractic, formerly Pasadena College of Chiropractic, was founded in 1972. The College is located in a residential area, approximately 8 miles south east of Los Angeles. There are plans to relocate in the near future to a site more conducive to its growing student body.

In December 1992 the college was granted accredited status with Straight Chiropractic Academic Standards Association (SCASA).

Southern California College of Chiropractic is committed to teaching the location, analysis, and correction of vertebral subluxation. All aspects of the College program have been designed to assure that students have the proper qualifications to sit for licensure examinations. The program also provides the basis for students to master the necessary skills to practice in a professional and safe manner.

The college has applied for accreditation with CCE. It is not known when a decision will be announced by the CCE as to its accreditation status.

Degree(s) offered: Doctor of Chiropractic
Prerequisites: H.S. Graduate; 60 selected college science and humanities
Academic/calendar years for degree: 3.3/3.3
Classes admitted per year: 3 (Jan/May/Sept)
Total student enrollment (Winter ’93): 131
No. of faculty: II full-time; 10 part-time
Annual patient visits at college clinic(s): 13,409

I’d like to hear from any of the students that attended Southern California College of Chiropractic or the Pasadena College of Chiropractic who may or may not still be practicing in the Southern California area.

I never visited the SCCC, but from what I heard by students that transfered to Cleveland, it was the only West Coast based “Straight Chiropractic School.” I don’t think the school ever received their CCE accreditation, which likely led to the school closing around 1996. Does the Straight Chiropractic Academic Standards Association (SCASA) still exist?

For those not familiar with Southern California geography, the schools location (8420 Beverly Road – Pico Rivera, CA 90660) was situated centrally to the areas of Pico Rivera, Montebello, Monterey Park, Rosemead, El Monte, and Whittier. Southern California University of Health Sciences was located less than 10 miles away, and Cleveland Chiropractic College was located less than 20 miles away, likely putting significant pressure on the chiropractic school to maintain enrollment. Lack of CCE accreditation was probably a nail in the coffin for this California chiropractic educational facility.